Container for elongated articles

ABSTRACT

A horizontally elongated, trussed-side container for supporting and containing long structural steel members, rods, pipe, etc., which container is adapted to be lifted by conventional overhead lifting beams of different standard lengths with the container connectable at its ends, and at points spaced from the ends, and which container includes shear supporting members and reinforcing members located and arranged to be in tension during normal lifting, vessel stowage, and highway transit conditions and to provide sufficient compressive restraint for the stationary trailer parking condition on the vertical trailer landing legs. The container has an open top and an open end and a wall at the leading end (relative to forward movement when on a land vehicle) to prevent forward shifting of the load during emergency brake applications, and it has posts capable of supporting at least five superposed, fully loaded, 40 foot I.S.O. (International Standards Organization) type in standard container cellular vessels, and end frame design providing racking load strength for lateral loading from cargo and above deck stacking condition in excess of standard 40 foot container requirements.

United States Patent 1191 Mappes 1 11 3,768,686 [451 Oct. 30, 1973 CONTAINER FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. [75] Inventor: Robert W. Mappes, Fremont, Calif. Asssmm Exammer james Garrett Attorney-Mark Mohler et al. [73] Assignee: Matson Navigation Company, San

Francisco, Calif; 57 BST 22 Filed; Sept 27, 1971 A horizontally elongated, trussed-side container for supporting and containing long structural steel mem- [211 Appl' 183366 bers, rods, pipe, etc., which container is adapted to be lifted by conventional overhead lifting beams of differ- 521 US. (:1. 220/15, 294/67 DA ent Standard lengths with the container connectable at 51 Int. Cl. B65d 87/00 its ends, and at Points Spaced from the ends, and 58 Field of Search 220/15, 84; which Container includes Shear Supporting members 230/106 R 10 29 /2 F, 230 L, 2 0 and reinforcing members located and arranged to be 294/ 7 DA, 7 up in tension during normal lifting, vessel stowage, and highway transit conditions and to provide sufficient- [56] R feren Cited compressive restraint for the stationary trailer parking UNITED STATES PATENTS condition on the vertical trailer landing legs. The container has an open top and an open end and a wall at i z the leading end (relative to forward movement when 2 839309 6/1958 s 220/1 X on a land vehicle) to prevent forward shifting of the 10/1962 g 226/ load during emergency brake applications, and it has 3,157,424 11 1964 Hall 220/84 x PostS capable of supporting at least five p p 3,163,306 12/1964 Bennett et l,,, 220/15 x fully loaded, 40 foot [.80. (International Standards 3,386,600 6/1968 Betjemann 220/ 1.5 X Organization) type in standard container cellular ves- 3,6l6,959 ll/197l Remsey 220/12 gels, and end frame design providing racking load FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS strength for lateral loading from cargo and above deck 706 758 5/1966 Italy 220/1 5 stacking condition in excess of standard 40 foot con- 59,376 1 1942 Denmark 280/106 T tamer requlremems' 11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Z i 19 I 3 2; n H w H 1o, 19 n I H 52 H ,2 3 5! L5 32 5 I! ll l '1 Z2 88 32 so 2 a; 5 15 E 3 13 .11 22 3a a 11 5 ,44 1s- 3 1i a e; fmth't 1.2 i it? (,L II .II I, Z l i169 7 37 J PAIENIEDucI 30 I975 SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR. I I At ROBE/U W MAW/E5 w 5M 597%IMI%ATT0KNEY5 BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION Heretofore long structural steel members, and other elongated articles of heavy material have been supported and transported on flat beds that, in some instances, have posts adjacent the ends. Beds of different lengths, such as 24 and 40 feet in length are standard, but in order to withstand the strainsincident to land and sea transportation, the bottom rails of the beds are very heavy and are deep (vertically) and in themselves do not provide any means for retaining the material thereon, thereby limiting the size of the load. The depth of the beds greatly restricts the pay-load capacity of the carrier, whether a land vehicle or a vessel.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a container for heavy elongated articles, which is of extremely light weight relative to the load it contains, yet has the strength and rigidity to withstand undesirable distortion under any of the strains imposed on a fully loaded container during; loading and unloading--lifting--support on the trailer vertical landing legs at a point spaced a substantial distance from the end of the container-racking, etc. whether on a land vehicle or on a vessel. As an example, a 40 foot container of the present invention has a tare weight of only 7,500 lbs. and a gross Weight maximum limit of 67,200 lbs., and the design efficiency, on the basis of weight to that of a comparable 40 foot flat bed design is doubled. Also the lateral load restraint to cargo does not require lashing to a bed.

An added object of the invention is the provision of a horizontally elongated container of standard length, such as 40 ft. for heavy elongated articles horizontally positioned thereon, which container has truss sides and means at the ends and also at points spaced from the ends, for connection with either a 40 ft. lifting beam or a 24 ft. lifting beam, for lifting at the full gross load limit plus lg acceleration vertically, the equivalent of a 2g load (134,400 lbs.) by either lifting beam.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a horizontally elongated truss-side container having an open top and one open end, the latter including a frame design providing for over length loads without sacrificing lateral or column strength. The opposite end of the container includes a frame and a solid plate surface to prevent a load from shifting forward (relative to normal forward movement of a land vehicle) during emergency highway brake applications.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the container with broken lines showing vertical landing legs for supporting the forward end of the container and load when the trailer is parked.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partly in cross section with flooring broken away to show understructure.

FIG. 3 is a front end view of the container.

FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the container.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view along line 66 of FIG 4 with a removable board bulkhead in position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view at line 9--9 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view along line l0l0 of FIG. 9. I

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view along line ll--ll of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line 12-12 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The container illustrated, as an example, is 40 feet in length, 51 inches in height, and the outside width is 8 feet. This is not intended as a limitation. This concrete example is given because it provides for complete intermodel use in accordance with American National Standards Institute (A.N.S.I.), International Organization for Standardization (1.8.0.) or International Standardization Organization and American Bureau of Shipping (A.B.S.) requirements, where applicable with seagoing container vessels, container-bearing skeletal or full frame highway trailers, and container-adapted rail cars.

In the description and claims, the use of the words front, rear, forward, rearward, and other words having similar meaning, are used with reference to the normal forward direction of movement of the container when transported on a tractor drawn trailer.

Except where otherwise specifically designated, the container is constructed of steel of structural shapes, or steel plates of appropriate strength.

CONTAINERS GENERALLY In its general aspect, the container is horizontally elongated, having corresponding longitudinal, trussed sides generally designated 1, an open upper side to permit vertical loading and unloading of elongated articles that may extend the full length of the container, an open rear end 2 through which the load may, under certain conditions, extend to project from said rear end, which includes provisionfor load-restraining bull boards which may be of wood or other suitable material, for load retention, and a forward end 3 which includes a permanent, reinforced, fully closed bulkhead to prevent the forward shifting of the load during emergency brake applications, and a bottom 5 to be described later.

SIDES OF CONTAINER Both sides are the same, hence a detailed description of one will apply'to both.

Each side comprises a horizontally-extending lower rail 7 (FIGS. 1, 2, 9-12) of channel contour with its web 8 vertical and its flanges 9 projecting inwardly toward the opposite side of the container.

Spaced above rail 7 at each side is an upper horizontally-extending inverted channel member providing an upper rail 10.

Extending vertically between the upper and lower rails are parallel, horizontally spaced I-beam posts generally designated 11, the central post which is located centrally between the ends of the container is specifically designated 11' (FIG. I).

Equally spaced from opposite sides of post 11', and from opposite ends of the container, are vertical columns 12, 13, the column 12 being between the forward portions of the rails 7, and column 13 being between the rear portions. Columns 12, 13 are spaced apart substantially 24 feet in a 40 foot container and at the lifting points for the conventional lifting beams used to lift 24 foot containers of different types.

Each column 12, 13 is reinforced and comprises a pair of horizontally-spaced, vertically-extending I- beams (FIG. 2), the webs of which form two opposite sides of each column, and a vertical plate 15 connects the flanges and forms the outer side of each column relative to the inside of the container.

The horizontal web of each upper rail above each column l2, 13 is formed with a slot 16 providing access for downward passage ,therethrough of a lifting hook on a lifting beam, which hook is adapted to engage an elemerit within the upper end of each column for lifting the container and its load. Such lifting beam and the structure engageable therewith through slots 16 may be of the standard type adopted by the American Standards Institute or any other suitable structure may be used such as shown in U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,078,115, issued Feb. 19, 1963 to L. A. Harlander et al.

In FIGS. 1, 2 of the drawings, the forward end of the container is the left-hand end, and the rear end is the right-hand end. Each side includes a forward or front corner post 17 and a rear corner post 18 (FIG. 1). These will be described more in detail in the description of the front and rear end frames. At this point it is sufficient to say that they are of the box-girder type capable of supporting five fully loaded 40 foot I.S.O. type containers on top in standard container cellular vessels.

The upper and lower rails are welded at their ends to the upper ends of the corner posts l7, 18, each of said upper ends comprising an upper casting 19 formed with an upwardly directed opening 20 (FIG. 2) and interior structure corresponding to the slot 16 and interior structure at the upper ends of columns l2, 13 for the standard lifting hooks on a conventional 40 foot container lifting beam.

The lower ends of the corner posts comprise castings 21 (FIG. 2) each formed with a downwardly directed opening having the same outline as the openings 16, 20. Each casting 21 is adapted to receive an upstanding conical member fixed on the deck or other support for the container. Such conical members correspond in function, and generally in structure, to the conical container supporting members shown and described in U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,083,670 issued to L. Harlander et al. Apr. 2, 1963.

With respect to the openings in the castings, at the upper and lower ends of the corner pieces, in any event, said openings fully meet the standards set forth by A.N.S.I. and ISO, and may have lateral openings with or without upwardly directed openings in the upper corner pieces.

In stacking containers what are called stacking fittings, each having conical upwardly and downwardly directed projections on opposite sides of a plate, are positioned between these upper and lower corner castings with the projections extending into the castings.

Between each adjacent pair of posts 11 at the rear half of each side, including post 11 column 13 and the rear corner post 18, is a truss member 22 (FIG. 1.) extending diagonally upwardly and rearwardly from the lower end of each post l1, l1 and column 13 to the upper end of the adjacent post 11, column 13 and corner post 18 in a direction rearwardly of post 11. Said truss members are of I-beam contour disposed with their flanges vertical and the flanges at one side are welded along their edges to bracket plates 23, which in turn are respectively welded to the upper and lower rails and to the posts 11, 11, column 13 and to a bracket plate 23' at the upper end of the corner post 18.

The reinforced column 12 along the forward portion of each side is the same as column 13 and is the same distance from the central post 11, as has already been noted.

Each of the posts 11 in the forward portion of each side forwardly of post 11 are of the same structure as the posts 11 in the rear portion of each side. The post 11 between each forward corner post 17 and the column 12 is spaced between said corner post and column the same as the spacing of post 11 in the rear portion of each side between rear corner post 18 and the column l3, and the spacing between the post 11 nearest to post 11' forwardly of the latter, is the same as the spacing between the post 11 nearest post 11 in a direction rearwardly of the latter.

Between central post 11' and column 12 there are three posts 11, said posts being specifically designated 24, 25, 26 (FIG.1) in that order forwardly of post 11'. The spacing between these posts and the spacing between post 26 and column 12 is substantially less than the spacing between the other posts 7 to provide extra reinforcing in the sides along the portions adjacent to and rearwardly of columns 12, the reason for which will appear later.

Truss members 27, 28 are of the same I-beam contour of truss members 22 and extend diagonally upwardly and forwardly from the lower ends of posts 25, 26 to the upper end of post 26 and column 12 and are welded at their ends to bracket plates 29 that correspond to bracket plates 23. These truss members coact with cross braces 30 at opposite sides of each truss member 27 and a central bracket 31 to which they and the truss members are welded, to provide cross bracing of the container sides at the approximate location between column l2 and post 25 in addition to the strength provided by the truss members themselves. Said cross braces 30 respectively extend to the upper and lower ends of posts 25, 26, and between the upper and open ends of post 26 and column 12, and are welded at their ends to brackets 29.

The other truss members 32 between the column 12 and the forward corner post 17, and between the post 1 1 and post 25 are diagonally inclined in the same manner as truss members 27, 28 and are secured at their ends to bracket plates 33 that correspond to bracket plates 29, except that the upper terminal end of the truss 29 at the upper end of the forward corner post 17 in each side is welded to a bracket 33 corresponding to bracket 23 and the lower end of the truss member 32 at column 12 is secured to the same bracket 29 to which the lower cross member 30 is welded, and the lower end of the truss member 32 at the post 11 is welded to the bracket 23 to which the lower end of a truss member 22 is welded.

The above-described location and arrangement of the truss members provide I-beam diagonal shear supporting members in the container that are in tension during normal lifting, vessel stowage, or highway transit conditions, yet sufficient compressive restraint for the stationary trailer parking condition on trailer landing legs, indicated at 34 (FIG. 1) when the tractor is withdrawn from the trailer, and the rear end of the container is supported stationary on the rear wheels of the trailer (not shown).

The double or X bracing between column 12 and posts 25, 26, is at the approximate location of the trailer landing legs to provide added strength at this highly loaded point.

In addition to the standard location for I.S.O. type lifting points at the extreme ends of the container, the columns 12, 13 at the intermediate points provide for lifting by a standard 24-foot lifting beam used for conventional 24-foot containers, and provide the reinforcement required at these points to provide for lifting the full gross load limit plus lg acceleration vertically, the equivalent of a 2g load.

The full depth side structure allows for a reduced depth bed frame and lower side rails providing additional load space vertically offsetting the effect of restricted loading width. The side structure may also be provided with longitudinal camber or arching to further inhance the load bearing capacity of the container.

The inner surfaces of all members in the side structure are flush with the inner surface of the top longitudinal cord member providing ease of entry and removal of the load from the container vertically.

FRONT END FRAME The front end frame, generally designated 40 (FIG. 3) includes the front corner posts 17 and their upper and lower castings 19, 21. Their lower ends are welded to the ends of the lower rails 7 and are connected by a lower transverse channel member 41 of special crosssectional contour (FIG. 5), the web of the forward side is slightly offset rearward relative to the forward sides of the corner posts. The ends of the transverse member 41 abut and are welded to the inwardly facing sides of the lower portion of corner posts 17 directly above castings 21. The upper flange 42 of the transverse channel member 41 is extended and offset downwardly along its free edge (FIG. 5) to provide a horizontal ledge 43 adapted to support one of the ends of flooring 44, and stiffener plates 45 between the flanges are provided to stiffen them.

The lower transverse member 41 is further reinforced by an elongated bracket 46 of L cross-sectional contour (FIGS. 3, 5) extending horizontally from each of the lower corner castings 21 on the forward corner posts 17 equal distances from said corner casting, and to spaced members of the containers understructure,

as will later appear in a description of the bottom of the container. One of the ends of each bracket 46 is welded to one of the corner castings and one leg 47 (FIG. 5) is vertical and flush with the web of said transverse member 41 and is welded along its free edge to the member 41. The other legs on the brackets 46 extend rearwardly.

A transversely extending inverted upper channel member 48 extends between and is welded at its ends to the castings 19 at the upper ends of the corner posts 17 (FIG. 3). Horizontally spaced angle posts 49 extend vertically between the upper and lower transverse members and are welded thereto. The longer flanges on the angle posts are directed rearwardly and a vertical plate 50 (FIG. 5) extends across the free rearwardly facing edges of said angle posts and is welded thereto.

The lower edge of plate 50 terminates at the upper side of the lower transverse member 41 at approximately the point where ledge 43 is provided. Plate 50 is welded along its lower and upper edges to the lower transverse member 41 and to the upper transverse member 48, and along its vertical edges to the corner posts 17 and it is also welded to posts 49. Said plate 50 provides a forward bulkhead to prevent forward movement of the load in the container from shifting forwardly for any reason, particularly in the event of emergency braking of a land vehicle supporting the container. The plate also materially reinforces the container against lateral racking forces particularly when deck loaded, from overstowed containers.

Tie-down rings 35 (FIGS. 2, 9 and 10) are'positioned opposite to each other at spaced points along the lower rails 7 and are pivotally connected thereto for swinging upwardly, when in use, from generally horizontally disposed positions on horizontal shelf plates 36 (FIGS. 2, 10) that are welded to the upper flanges 9 of rails 7 and t0 the upper flange of the crossmember 71 adjacent thereto (FIG. 10). These tie-down rings are within the laterally projected confines of the lower ends of the post 11 adjacent thereto both when vertical and when lying down on plates 36, and they enable tying down steel coils, bars, lumber, etc. where such securement of the load is required by law or for prevention of shifting cargo damage.

Also, relatively short lengths of half-round bars 37 (FIGS. 1, 11) extend along and are welded within the lower rails 7 at opposite points along the rear end portion of the side frames, and similar bars 38 at approximately the midpoint between the end frames are welded to channel sections 40 (FIG. 12) that, in turn, are spaced inwardly from the lower. rails 7. In addition, two special forward latch engagement castings 79 (FIG. 8), located near the forward end in the recess between the trailer guide longitudinal members 75, are welded to the understructure at the longitudinal forward latch-casting-mounting-reinforcements 77, 78.

Each of the half rounded bars 37, 38 and the forward latch engagement castings 79 have angularly disposed upper faces that are adapted to be releasably engaged by catches or latches on a trailer on which the container is adapted to be positioned. Such latches are shown and described in US. letters Pat. No. 3,034,825, issued May 15, l962 to L.A. Harlander et al., in which plates having angularly disposed upper surfaces instead of latch bars are on closed containers of the type used in containerized vessels.

REAR FRAME The rear frame (FIG. 4) is of U-shape and is normally open between the legs providing for, over length loads without sacrificing lateral or column strength, and includes the corner posts 18.

A lower transverse frame member extends between the lower ends of the corner posts and is of the same general box girder construction (FIGS. 6, 7) of the corner posts. The forward and rear sides 56, 57 respectively of the corner posts and the transverse frame member 55 are integral and have a continuous flange radial corner 58 (FIG. 4) providing racking load strength for lateral loading from the cargo and above deck container stacking condition in excess of the standard 40-foot container requirements. The continuous inner flange 58 at the corners eliminates dependence on assembly techniques and workmanship for strength requirements in this maximum stress location. The radius shape and size reduces the effect of stress concentration normally associated with sharp corner construction.

Internal radially disposed plate stiffeners 59 (FIG. 4) extending between the side plates 56, 57 in spaced relation along the curved corner flanges 58 are welded along their edges to said side plates and to the inner curved walls 60 (FIG. 4, 6) to prevent loss of inner flange strength due to any tendency toward localized buckling in the corner radius area.

Vertical angle strips 61 of a pair (FIGS. 2, 7) are each welded along one of their free edges to one of the opposed sides of each rear corner post with the other leg projecting laterally across the space between the sides of the container providing vertical channels for removably supporting a rear wooden bulkhead 62, when closure of the rear end of the container is desirable or required.

Also, a horizontal strip 63 (FIG. 6) is welded to the forward side of the plate 56 of the lower transverse member to provide a support for flooring 44.

UNDERSTRUCTURE OR BOTTOM WALL Extending transversely across the space between the lower rails 7 and below the column 13 is a pair ofjunior I beams 67 (FIGS. 1, 2) and below column 12 is a similar pair of! beams 68, but of lesser vertical depth, also extending between the lower rails 7.

A wide flange I beam 69 extends between the lower rails 7 below post 26 at approximately the point above the landing legs 34 (FIG. 1). This wide flange beam is of substantially the same depth as the lower rails 7, and a plurality of horizontally-spaced I beams 70 of the same depth as beams 68 are between the wide flange l beam and the forward end frame.

A plurality ofjunior I beams 71 of the same depth as beams 67 are in parallel, spaced, side-by-side relation between the wide-flange beam 69 and the pair of beams 67 at opposite sides of beam 69, and also between the pair of beams 67 nearest the rear end of the container and said rear end.

All of the beams 67-71, inclusive, have their webs vertical and are welded along their webs and their flanges to the lower rails 7. The lower end ofa vertical post is over each end of one of the beams 67-71 (FIG. which structure provides a direct and substantial cantilever connection between said posts and beams to hold side bulging of the truss type sides to a minimum.

Relatively light gauge horizontally-disposed pairs of reinforcing strips 73 in crossing relation centrally between the lower rails 7 are positioned directly over beams 67-71 and are welded thereto. Their ends extend over the upper surfaces of said side rails 7 and are welded thereto. The wooden bed or flooring 44 comprise lengths extending longitudinally of the container, and are supported on the beams 69-71 and extend across strips 73, being fastened to the beams by screws.

The strips 73 are welded to each of the beams they cross, and provide shear truss effect to the understructurefor lateral loadings against the sides of the unit that may occur during a vessels rolling action at sea or from any' other like side motion.

Extending across and secured to the ends of the members 46 that are below the end portions of the lower front frame member 41 are parallel channels 75 (FIG. 2) that extend rearwardly below the beams 68, to the wide flange beam 69, which channels are welded to said beams 68, 69, 70, 71 (FIGS. 3, 8). The webs of channels 75 are vertical and the lower surfaces of their flanges are substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the lower rails 7 and the pair of channels 75 define the opposite sides of a tunnel in the forward end portion. Brackets 76 (FIG. 8) are positioned between the webs of the respective channels 75 and are welded to the webs and flanges and to beams 68, 70.

The tunnel between channels 75 is adapted to receive conventional structure on a trailer, which trailer structure includes rails (not shown) extending longitudinally of the container engaging the undersides of the cross beams 68, 70 when the container is supported on the trailer.

Forwardly of the pair of beams 68 that extend between the lower ends of the forward columns 12 and disposed between the next adjacent beam 70 and the beam 68 nearest thereto, and welded at their ends thereto, are a pair of parallel frame members 77. Immediately forward of the beam 70 to which the forward ends of members 77 are welded, and extending forwardly therefrom to the next adjacent beam 70 are two bottom frame members 78 (FIGS. 2, 8). Each pair of members 78 are at opposite sides of a line in extension of the members 77 respectively, and said members 78 are welded at their ends to the beams 70 between which they extend.

The forward latch engagement castings 79 (FIG. 8) are welded points the underside of the lower flanges of members 77, 78 as described above.

The members 77, 78 serve as members to which the forward latch engaging fittings 79 are attached. Said fittings 79 are similar to the fittings 38 but extend transversely of the container, instead of longitudinally, and are adapted to interlock with a latch system, such as shown and described in the hereinbefore'US. Pat. No. 3,034,825 to prevent separation of the container from the trailer in the event of an accidental overturn.

When the container is supported on a trailer, each of the longitudinally extending rails of a pair thereof on a trailer will extend between one of the channel strips 75 and the pair of members 75 adjacent thereto. As a result centering guidance is provided on the container during engagement of the container onto the trailer, and lateral restraint is provided during coupled transit conditions.

The forward terminal ends of the channel strips 75 are welded to the terminal inner ends of the transverse members 46 (FIG. 3) while the terminal rear ends of channels 75 are welded to the wide flange cross beam 69 (FIG. 2).

Corner fittings on railroad and road vehicles may take different forms, where used, but in any event rectangular corner castings on the corner posts, as described herein, are adapted to cooperate with approved corner fittings.

In operation, when the container and its load are being transported on a trailer of the character described herein the latch elements on the trailer secure the container to the latter. When the tractor is withdrawn and the container and its load are supported on the vertical landing legs, the extra reinforcement of the container at the point of support insures against objectionable distortion of the container and load.

When the container is supported at its ends on corner fittings on a ship or other vehicle and when the container and its load are lifted from the points of engagement with the lifting-beam elements, the camber of the container, the truss and outer structure, as described provide a strong, lightweight, and economically made container of greater capacity than heretofore for the products described, and one that meets all of the approved and established requirements for a standard shipping container of either 40 foot or 24 foot length, without the necessity of lashing the load, such as a load of elongated structural steel or other members, to a bed.

I claim:

1. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising:

a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame;

b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame;

c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames;

(1. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom;

e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty;

f. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame;

g. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said cross frames;

h. a row of vertical, spaced side posts extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails;

. latch engaging means along said lower side rails and carried by said cross beams adjacent to but spaced from said rear end frame for engagement by holddown latches on a trailer on which the container is adapted to be supported;

j. a pair of elongated positioning strips in spaced, side-by-side relation equally spaced from said side frames and extending longitudinally of said container for receiving therebetween a portion of a trailer on which said container is adapted to be supported for positioning said container on such trailer and for retaining it in said position against lateral movement relative to said trailer.

2. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising:

a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of parallel, vertical, spaced, opposed sides of equal length and height extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame;

b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame;

c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames;

d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom;

e. said side frames each including vertical side columns equally spaced from said corner posts and equally spaced from a point centrally between the ends of said side frames;

f. lifting-beam-engageable means respectively at and rigid with the upper ends of said corner posts and said columns positioned within the upwardly projecting confines of said sides of the container for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams of different lengths for lifting said container from said corner posts or from said columns, according to the length of the lifting beam, said columns and corner posts being of the same height and in the same vertical plane along each of said sides of the container and each of said lifting-beam-engaging means being of the same structure, each of said columns being of box channel form in horizontal cross-sectional contour and comprising a pair of vertically extending l-beams in side by side relation with their webs transversely of the side wall forming two opposed sides of each column and a plate connecting one of the flanges of each of said I-beams and forming the other side of each column.

3. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising:

a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame;

b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frameof structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the con tainer and an end of each end frame;

c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames;

d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom;

e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty;

f. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame, said lower rails having horizontally disposed upper flanges with horizontal upper surfaces;

g. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames, and having upper horizontal surfaces coplanar with said upper surfaces of the upper flanges on said lower rails;

h. a row of vertical, spaced side posts extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams, each of said side posts being of structural steel having a web extending fully, across one of said lower rails and a substantially greater distance over the upper surface of the cross beam that is adjacent thereto, said webs being welded to said upper flanges of said lower rails and to said upper surfaces of said cross beams to provide a cantilever connection between each side post and said lower rails and cross beams to resist outwardbulging of the side frames under the force of a load supported on said cross beams.

4. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising:

a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rearend frame to said forward end frame;

hr each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame;

c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; i

d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom;

e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty;

f. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame;

g. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames;

h. a row of vertical, spaced, side posts extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails;

i. horizontally disposed sets of cross braces in substantially adjoining relation in a row extending longitudinally of said lower rails, with the braces of each set being in crossing relation at a point centrally between said lower rails and extending across and welded to a plurality of said cross beams at each of the opposite sides of said central point and with the ends of each cross bar supported on and welded to said lower rails, said cross braces being relatively light gauge metal strips compared to the gauge of said rails and cross beams;

j. a flooring over and secured to said cross braces providing a floor for said container; and

k. means on said lower rails disposed adjacent to the lower ends of certain of said posts and disposed within the laterally projected confines of said posts in a direction longitudinally of said rails for attachment of load securing means thereto.

5. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising:

a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end-frame, a vertically disposed forward endframe at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end-frame to said forward end-frame;

b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end-frame;

c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by' said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames;

d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom;

e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting saidcontainers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty;

f. said rear end-frame being of box girder construction including a pair of continuous, generally U- shaped, steel plates in spaced opposed relation defining the forwardly and rearwardly facing sides of said rear corner posts and of a lower cross member extending between their lower ends parallel with said cross beams, said plates being formed with radius inner corners at the junctures of said cross member and corner posts, all whereby said rear end-frame will provide racking load strength for lateral loading from the cargo and from above deck container stacking condition.

6. In a container as defined in claim g. one of the other sides of said rear end-frame comprising a continuous inner plate defining the inner side of said corner posts and the upper side of said lower cross member welded to said pair of plates; and

h. a plurality of spaced stiffener plates between said pair of plates around the arc of said radius disposed radially of said arc welded along their edges to said pair of plates and to said inner plates to resist localized buckling of said pair of plates at said inner corners.

7. In a container as defined in claim 5:

g. said forward end-frame comprising said forward corner posts and a'lower forward cross member extending between and welded at its ends to the lower ends of said forward corner posts;

h. a vertical metal end plate closing the forward end of said container welded to said forward corner posts and to said lower forward cross member, providing a forward bulkhead to prevent forward shifting of said load within said container past said end plate during emergency brake applications.

8. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising:

a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end-frame, a vertically disposed forward endframe at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end-frame to said forward end-frame;

b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end-frame;

c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames;

d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load memembers therefrom;

e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty;

f. said lifting-beam-engageable means being on said corner posts and at points along said side frames equally spaced from said corner posts to enable lifting said container by lifting beams of different lengths on which the lifting elements are differently spaced;

g. said side frames each including vertical side columns equally spaced from said corner posts and spaced from each other along each side frame,

each column being positioned at one of said points,

and one of said lifting-beam-engageable means being at the upper end of and rigid with each of 5 said columns;

h. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame;

i. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames;

j. a row of vertical, spaced side posts including the columns extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails;

k. said rows of vertical side posts including a central post approximately midway between the corner posts of each side frame, and truss members between adjacent posts of each side frame including said columns and corner posts, rigidly connected at their opposite ends with the upper and lower rail and similarly inclined in an upward direction at one side of said central post from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post, and similarly inclined in an opposite direction from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post at the other side of said central post, and respectively rigidly secured at their lower and upper ends to their adjacent posts, whereby said truss members between said central posts and said columns will be in tension during normal lifting, vessel stowage, and highway transit conditions, yet will provide compressive restraint for stationary parking conditions when an end portion of said container is supported on trailer landing legs at a point spaced from one end of the container.

9. In a container as defined in claim 8:

I. said container being adapted to be supported horizontally on a trailer at its rear end and on trailer landing legs at a point adjacent to but spaced from said forward end and adjacent to the columns that are adjacent to said forward end;

m. cross members rigid with said truss member and inclined oppositely to the latter at said last mentioned point reinforcing said container during support of the latter on landing legs at said point.

10. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: i

a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame;

b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame;

c. a row of spaced, horiziontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames;

d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom;

e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty;

f. said lifting-beam-engageable means being on said corner posts and at ponts along said side frames equally spaced from said corner posts to enable lifting said container by lifting beams of different lengths on which the lifting elements are differently spaced;

g. said side frames each including vertical side columns equally spaced-from said corner posts and spaced from each other along each side frame, each column being positioned at one of said points, and one of said lifting-beam-engageable means being at the upper end of and rigid with each of said columns;

h. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame;

. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames;

j. a row of vertical, spaced side posts including the columns extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails;

k. said container having an upward camber between its ends to resist downward movement between its ends below the level of the lower ends of said corner posts;

I. said rear end frame being of box-girder construction having a pair of continuous, generally U- shaped steel plates in spaced opposed relation defining the forward and rearwardly facing sides of said corner posts and of a lower cross member extending between their lower ends parallel with said cross beams, said plates being formed with radius inner corners at the junctures of said cross member and corner posts whereby said rear end frame will provide racking load strength for lateral loading from the cargo and from above deck stacking condition;

m. one of the other sides of said rear end frame comprising a continuous plate defining the inner side of said corner posts and the upper side of said lower cross member welded to said pair of plates.

11. In a container as defined in claim 10:

n. said rows of vertical side posts including a central post approximately midway between the corner posts of each side frame, and truss members between adjacent posts of each side frame including said columns and corner posts, rigidly connected at their opposite ends with the upper and lower rail and similarly inclined in an upward direction at one side of said central post from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post, and similarly inclined in an opposite direction from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post at the other side of said central post, and respectively rigidly secured at their lower and upper ends to their adjacent posts, whereby said truss members will be in tension during normal lifting, vessel stowage, and highway transit conditions, yet will provide compressive restraint for stationary parking conditions when an end portion of said container is supported on trailer landing legs at a point spaced from one end of the container;

0. said container being adapted to be supported horizontally on a trailer at one end and on trailer landing legs at a point adjacent to but spaced from the opposite end and adjacent to the columns that are adjacent to said last mentioned opposite end;

p. cross members rigid with said truss members and inclined oppositely to the latter at said last mentioned point reinforcing said container during support of the latter on landing legs at said point. 

1. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame; b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame; c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom; e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty; f. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame; g. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said cross frames; h. a row of vertical, spaced side posts extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails; i. latch engaging means along said lower side rails and carried by said cross beams adjacent to but spaced from said rear end frame for engagement by hold-down latches on a trailer on which the container is adapted to be supported; j. a pair of elongated positioning strips in spaced, side-byside relation equally spaced from said side frames and extending longitudinally of said container for receiving tHerebetween a portion of a trailer on which said container is adapted to be supported for positioning said container on such trailer and for retaining it in said position against lateral movement relative to said trailer.
 2. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of parallel, vertical, spaced, opposed sides of equal length and height extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame; b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame; c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom; e. said side frames each including vertical side columns equally spaced from said corner posts and equally spaced from a point centrally between the ends of said side frames; f. lifting-beam-engageable means respectively at and rigid with the upper ends of said corner posts and said columns positioned within the upwardly projecting confines of said sides of the container for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams of different lengths for lifting said container from said corner posts or from said columns, according to the length of the lifting beam, said columns and corner posts being of the same height and in the same vertical plane along each of said sides of the container and each of said lifting-beam-engaging means being of the same structure, each of said columns being of box channel form in horizontal cross-sectional contour and comprising a pair of vertically extending I-beams in side by side relation with their webs transversely of the side wall forming two opposed sides of each column and a plate connecting one of the flanges of each of said I-beams and forming the other side of each column.
 3. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame; b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame; c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom; e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty; f. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereOf between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame, said lower rails having horizontally disposed upper flanges with horizontal upper surfaces; g. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames, and having upper horizontal surfaces coplanar with said upper surfaces of the upper flanges on said lower rails; h. a row of vertical, spaced side posts extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams, each of said side posts being of structural steel having a web extending fully across one of said lower rails and a substantially greater distance over the upper surface of the cross beam that is adjacent thereto, said webs being welded to said upper flanges of said lower rails and to said upper surfaces of said cross beams to provide a cantilever connection between each side post and said lower rails and cross beams to resist outward bulging of the side frames under the force of a load supported on said cross beams.
 4. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame; b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame; c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom; e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty; f. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame; g. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames; h. a row of vertical, spaced, side posts extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails; i. horizontally disposed sets of cross braces in substantially adjoining relation in a row extending longitudinally of said lower rails, with the braces of each set being in crossing relation at a point centrally between said lower rails and extending across and welded to a plurality of said cross beams at each of the opposite sides of said central point and with the ends of each cross bar supported on and welded to said lower rails, said cross braces being relatively light gauge metal strips compared to the gauge of said rails and cross beams; j. a flooring over and secured to said cross braces providing a floor for said container; and k. means on said lower rails disposed adjacent to the lower ends of certain of said posts and disposed within the laterally projected confines of said posts in a direction longitudinally of said rails for attachment of load securing means thereto.
 5. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end-frame, a vertically disposed forward end-frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end-frame to said forward end-frame; b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end-frame; c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom; e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty; f. said rear end-frame being of box girder construction including a pair of continuous, generally U-shaped, steel plates in spaced opposed relation defining the forwardly and rearwardly facing sides of said rear corner posts and of a lower cross member extending between their lower ends parallel with said cross beams, said plates being formed with radius inner corners at the junctures of said cross member and corner posts, all whereby said rear end-frame will provide racking load strength for lateral loading from the cargo and from above deck container stacking condition.
 6. In a container as defined in claim 5: g. one of the other sides of said rear end-frame comprising a continuous inner plate defining the inner side of said corner posts and the upper side of said lower cross member welded to said pair of plates; and h. a plurality of spaced stiffener plates between said pair of plates around the arc of said radius disposed radially of said arc welded along their edges to said pair of plates and to said inner plates to resist localized buckling of said pair of plates at said inner corners.
 7. In a container as defined in claim 5: g. said forward end-frame comprising said forward corner posts and a lower forward cross member extending between and welded at its ends to the lower ends of said forward corner posts; h. a vertical metal end plate closing the forward end of said container welded to said forward corner posts and to said lower forward cross member, providing a forward bulkhead to prevent forward shifting of said load within said container past said end plate during emergency brake applications.
 8. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end-frame, a vertically disposed forward end-frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end-frame to said forward end-frame; b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end-frame; c. a row of spaced, horizontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load members therefrom; e. sAid side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty; f. said lifting-beam-engageable means being on said corner posts and at points along said side frames equally spaced from said corner posts to enable lifting said container by lifting beams of different lengths on which the lifting elements are differently spaced; g. said side frames each including vertical side columns equally spaced from said corner posts and spaced from each other along each side frame, each column being positioned at one of said points, and one of said lifting-beam-engageable means being at the upper end of and rigid with each of said columns; h. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame; i. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames; j. a row of vertical, spaced side posts including the columns extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails; k. said rows of vertical side posts including a central post approximately midway between the corner posts of each side frame, and truss members between adjacent posts of each side frame including said columns and corner posts, rigidly connected at their opposite ends with the upper and lower rail and similarly inclined in an upward direction at one side of said central post from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post, and similarly inclined in an opposite direction from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post at the other side of said central post, and respectively rigidly secured at their lower and upper ends to their adjacent posts, whereby said truss members between said central posts and said columns will be in tension during normal lifting, vessel stowage, and highway transit conditions, yet will provide compressive restraint for stationary parking conditions when an end portion of said container is supported on trailer landing legs at a point spaced from one end of the container.
 9. In a container as defined in claim 8: l. said container being adapted to be supported horizontally on a trailer at its rear end and on trailer landing legs at a point adjacent to but spaced from said forward end and adjacent to the columns that are adjacent to said forward end; m. cross members rigid with said truss member and inclined oppositely to the latter at said last mentioned point reinforcing said container during support of the latter on landing legs at said point.
 10. A horizontally elongated container for land or sea transport of a load of elongated structural steel members and the like, comprising: a. horizontally disposed bottom, a vertically disposed rear end frame, a vertically disposed forward end frame at opposite ends of said bottom, and a pair of vertical, spaced, opposed sides extending longitudinally of said bottom from said rear end frame to said forward end frame; b. each of said sides comprising a trussed frame of structural steel including a vertical corner post at each end, each post defining a corner of the container and an end of each end frame; c. a row of spaced, horiziontally extending cross beams of structural steel extending between and secured at their ends to said side frames along their lower longitudinally extending edges providing a support for the load to be carried by said container with the members of such load extending transversely across said beams and longitudinally of said side frames; d. the upper side of said container being open for vertical loading and unloading of the load membeRs therefrom; e. said side frames including lifting-beam-engageable means on opposite end portions of said side frames for releasable engagement with the lifting elements on conventional overhead lifting beams for lifting said containers from said end portions when said containers are loaded or empty; f. said lifting-beam-engageable means being on said corner posts and at ponts along said side frames equally spaced from said corner posts to enable lifting said container by lifting beams of different lengths on which the lifting elements are differently spaced; g. said side frames each including vertical side columns equally spaced from said corner posts and spaced from each other along each side frame, each column being positioned at one of said points, and one of said lifting-beam-engageable means being at the upper end of and rigid with each of said columns; h. said side frames each including an upper and a lower rail extending longitudinally thereof between the upper and lower ends of the corner posts at the ends of each side frame; i. said cross beams being parallel with each other and rigidly secured at their ends to the lower rails of said side frames; j. a row of vertical, spaced side posts including the columns extending between the upper and lower rails of each side frame at the ends of said cross beams and welded at their ends to said upper and lower rails; k. said container having an upward camber between its ends to resist downward movement between its ends below the level of the lower ends of said corner posts; l. said rear end frame being of box-girder construction having a pair of continuous, generally U-shaped steel plates in spaced opposed relation defining the forwardly and rearwardly facing sides of said corner posts and of a lower cross member extending between their lower ends parallel with said cross beams, said plates being formed with radius inner corners at the junctures of said cross member and corner posts whereby said rear end frame will provide racking load strength for lateral loading from the cargo and from above deck stacking condition; m. one of the other sides of said rear end frame comprising a continuous plate defining the inner side of said corner posts and the upper side of said lower cross member welded to said pair of plates.
 11. In a container as defined in claim 10: n. said rows of vertical side posts including a central post approximately midway between the corner posts of each side frame, and truss members between adjacent posts of each side frame including said columns and corner posts, rigidly connected at their opposite ends with the upper and lower rail and similarly inclined in an upward direction at one side of said central post from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post, and similarly inclined in an opposite direction from the lower end of each post to the upper end of the adjacent post at the other side of said central post, and respectively rigidly secured at their lower and upper ends to their adjacent posts, whereby said truss members will be in tension during normal lifting, vessel stowage, and highway transit conditions, yet will provide compressive restraint for stationary parking conditions when an end portion of said container is supported on trailer landing legs at a point spaced from one end of the container; o. said container being adapted to be supported horizontally on a trailer at one end and on trailer landing legs at a point adjacent to but spaced from the opposite end and adjacent to the columns that are adjacent to said last mentioned opposite end; p. cross members rigid with said truss members and inclined oppositely to the latter at said last mentioned point reinforcing said container during support of the latter on landing legs at said point. 